Warehouse Definition
Warehousing refers to the process of storing physical inventory to be used for distribution. It utilized by several types of businesses which require the need to store goods in large quantities before shipping them to different locations or to individual customers. Moreover, this place is an important factor in the chain of distribution for all kinds of companies which deal with physical goods. It could be a consumer business which store a product until it is delivered to the final consumer (B2C) or business-to-business (B2B) companies that store goods that are later delivered to their customers.
Many physical retailers have small spaces in their stores for stock, yet they must maintain a steady supply. The availability of additional inventory at nearby warehouses ensures they have the ability to replenish their stores at periods of high demand, such as Eid Mubarak or the Christmas season depend on the country, even when their suppliers are in different countries , and they are slow in delivering new products.
Type of Warehouses in Indonesia
Modern warehouses are full of activity, tidy bright and bright. It keeps our economy moving. Here are six very distinct types of storage place used currently.
PACK and SHIP WAREHOUSE
In this type of storage, their operations (packaging & shipping) occur after receipt of orders through online retailers or brick and mortar stores. The warehouse receives a list of goods and then employees or automated systems look for the products in the warehouse. Then, they are shipped, packaged, and marked, and then sent to the client. In Indonesia, there are many startup that provide this services, some of them are Shipper & Sirclo
Distribution Center
A lot of people confuse the terms warehouse and distribution center and refer to them interchangeably. While a warehouse can store products for a longer period of time, a distribution center stores products for a shorter period of time, and has an increased flow of goods arriving and leaving.
Distribution centers are very customer-focused and typically are located close to the place where the consumer is, which means they can deliver the products fast and in good condition. A distribution center can provide additional value-added services such as cross docking, pick and package services, or even simple mixing and packaging. Since a distribution center provides more options than warehouses and is also equipped with the latest technology that can facilitate the processes taking place inside.
Cold Storage
Cold storage is exactly what is implied by its name It stores temperature-sensitive objects at low temperatures. Cold storage warehouses is designed for medicines, perishable food items, cosmetics,and plants, hence it can have longer lives. The cold storage facilities also utilize refrigerated shipping to transport inbound or outbound transportation.
On-Demand Storage
A trend that is growing in warehousing is to offer on-demand storage. On-demand warehousing connects companies with the need for space in warehouses (temporary seasonal, seasonal, or for handling sudden sales spikes) with warehouses with extra space.
Smart Warehouse
Smart warehouses make use of automated systems and interconnected technology to take in goods, place them in storage, take them up for shipping, pack them and maintain an exact inventory count. Smart warehouses utilize technology to improve production, reduce the chance of errors and decrease the amount of employees required to manage the warehouse.